Building unit and structure



Dec. 25, 1934; EN 1,985,328

BUILDING UNIT AND STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3hwxzzzbr n/eys mm w Dec. 25, 1934. -P. RUTTE N 1,985,328

BUILDING UNIT AND STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1953 :Z/Z/ f7:9 19

j77/U77/Z07 I 33 7116A Ziorneys Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PAN foFFIcsf v 1,985,328 Emm m'r AND- STRUCTURE I Peter Rutten, Osakis,Minn. Application February 1, 1933, Serial No. 654,631

6 Claims." '(01. 72-16) This invention relates to precast building unitsand building structures constructed therefrom. H It is the generalobject of this invention to provide novel and improved buildingstructures, 6 which can be quickly and easily set up-by unskilled laborfrom precast building units 'made chieflyfrom plasticmaterial such asconcrete.

It is another object to provide novel and improved building units foruse in producing such building structures. r

To these ends, generally stated, the invention consists in thenovel-parts and novel combinations of parts hereinafter defined: in theclaims and described in the following specification, wherein likereference characters refer to the sameor s'imilar'parts throughout thevarious views, and, in which, Z Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of aportion of a house constructed in accordance with the 0 presentinvention, certain of the parts being broken away to more clearly showthe construction of other parts;

Fig. 2 is a-ihorizontal section taken through a portion of a .wall of ahouse-embodying the invention; v 1'Fig.3 is a vertical section taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by thearrows; Figi 4is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1'; as indicated bythe arrows, the tenons of certain of the wall slabs not.beingillustrated; Fig. 5yis a horizontal sectiontaken through one ofthe studs used in building the house,portions of. whicharefillustra'tedin Figs. 1 to 4'; and Fig. 6 Ba horizontal section takenthrough one 5' of the. corner posts u'sedz The various building units ofthe present invention will be described as they are used in building a'house. The manner of assembly .of these units will be described as thebuilding of the house progresses Referringito the drawings, a concretefoundation wall '7 for the house to be constructed, is first built'inthe usual manner.' Vertically extending bolts 8' are insertedwithinthisflfoundation wall 7 at spaced intervals, while the concrete ofthe wall is still unhardened and these bolts project upwardly for somelittle distance above the top" studs 9 and corner posts 10 areerected onthe foundation wall, these studs and corner-posts being used inconnection with the construction of the wall of a first floor of thehouse.

Each stud 9 is a preformed unit, construct-ed before it is taken to thebuilding "site. Each stud includes an outerbar or section 9aof'generally rectangular shape in horizontal cross section, as bestshown in Fig. 5, and constructedfrom con-- crete or other-plasticmaterial preferably suitably reinforced as by a reinforcing rod 91)."Each's'tud also includes an inner bar or section of generallyrectangular shape in horizontal cross sec; tion, but preferably ofsomewhat-less thickness from front to rear surfaces than the bar 9a.This second bar 90 is also constructed from concrete or otherplasticmaterial, preferably suitably reinforced, as by'a reinforcing rod-9b.=The front surface of the inner. bar 90 is spaced a short distance fromthe rear surface of the outer'bar 9a and between-these two surfacesthere is placed-a strip 9d of insulating material.' The two'bars 9a and9c and the strip of insulating material 9d are secured together as bymeans of ties '9eembedded in'the bars 9a and 9c and projecting throughthe strip 9d. The-strip 9d is-of somewhat narrowerwidth than the widthof the two bars-9a and 9c to form longitudinal grooves9f in the sides ofthe stud.- Oppositelydisposed longitudinal grooves 9g are formed inthe'side's of the bar 9a, while similar oppositely disposed longitudinalgrooves 9h are formed inthesides of the bar 9c. The grooves 91 are; ofcourse,- located intermedi ate the grooves 9g-andthe grooves Qhateach'side of the stud. Inthe back surface of the stud intermediate the sidesof the same there is pro videda nailing strip-97' which preferablyis'insert ediin placev within the bar' 90 at the time that the baris'molded, so that there'ar surface-of the strip lies fiushwith the rearsurface of'the bar 90.

" Neargthe lower end of the-stud 9,'there is provided a recess 97cformed in the outer bar 9a and this recess projects rearwardly from thefront'face or' surface of the bar-9a. A bolt opening 9Z projects throughthe lower end 0f the bar-I 9a-from the bott'om'of the recess 97:: to thebottom end of the .stud. 'Mounted in'theupper end of the bar 9a of thestud is a bolt 11 which projects upwardly for some distance above theupper end' of the stud. A'short distance below the upper endof the stud,a pair of'vertically spaced ro'd receiving openings 9m extendtransversely through the bar'9a.

- Each corner post 10 is of square shape inhori-' zontal crosssection-as best shown-in Fist- 6. :Each

post 10 includes an outer pillar or section 10a having four sides set atright angles to each other and a fifth diagonal side extending atapproximately a 45 angle to two of the sides of the pillar. This pillaris preferably cast from concrete or similar plastic material and ispreferably reinforced as by reinforcing rods 10b. The post 10 alsoincludes an inner smaller pillar 100 of substantially triangular shapein horizontal cross section. The outer surface of this inner pillar 10cis, spaced from the diagonal,side of the outer pillar 10a and a strip10d of insulating material is located between the two pillars. The twopillars 10a and 100 and the strip 10d are secured to gether by ties 10cembedded in the pillars and-projecting through the strip. The edges, ofthe strip 1011 are so cut and the inner or joining sides of the postwhere the edges of the strip lO'd appear are so formed as to affordlongitudinal grooves 10 therein. Outwardly from the grooves 110);lQngitud-inal grooves 10g are formed ,in the same sides of the post inthe pillar 10a, while inwardly frern the. grooves 10 longitudinalgrooves 10h are formed in the same sides of thepost in the pillar 10c.Near the lower end of the post'lG, a recess 107 :is provided, cutinwardly from the outer corner of the post; in the pillar 10a and a boltopening 1070 projects from the bottom of the recess lok to the bottomend of the post. Preferably one or more bolts similar to theboltsll areembedded in the upper end of the pillar -10a.of the post to projectabove the same. Spaced yertically from each other and also spacedvertically short distances from the upper end of the post 10,

7 two rod receiving openings v102 are provided in the pillar 10a andthese openings are set at right angles to each other and run parallelrespectively with the outer surfaces of the pillar 10a.

In erecting thestuds 9 and posts 10' on the foundation wall;7, the bolts8 at the corners of the foundation wall are run through the boltopenings 10k of the posts 10; while other bolts 8 are run through thebolt openings 9k oi the studs 9. Nuts: are; then threaded on the upperends of thesebolts andserewed downwardly against the bottoms of the.recesses 104" and -9] to securely anchor the lower ends of the postsand. studs; Horizontal. tie rods 12 are now run.through horizontallyalined rodreceiving openings 9m of adjacent. studs 9, as best shownin'Eig. l and these rods are secured to the studs by means of oppositelydisposed nuts 13 screwed onto the rods. The studs are of course, plumbed so that they stand" inr true vertical relation as the nuts 13 aretightened up.v It will be noted that consecutive rods 12 takenhorizontally of the wall are located at dif ferent levels. Similar rods12' extend; from the studs 9 adjacent the corner posts: 10' betweenthestudsv andposts and these rods run through the, rod receiving.openings 9m of the studs and; the rodreceiving openings lO-l of theposts.- 'I'hepostsi andv studs are accordingly tied togethernear-theirupper ends by means of .the tie rods l2;-

Where a door is. to be formed in the .wall of the house, a stud 14similar in most respects to of. the door':"frame,.- while: the stud 9.connected to the stud 14 by the rod 15 will form the other rough jamb ofthe door frame. Opposing faces of these two studs at their lower endsare rabbeted to receive a precast concrete slab 16 forming the thresholdof the rough door frame and the stud 14 adjacent its upper end and theopposing stud 9 at the same level are notched to receive a precastconcrete slab 17 forming the lintel of the rough door frame. The groovesBit of the "stud. 9 forming one jamb 'of' the door frame,lwhichgroovesopposethestud 14, and the corresponding grooves of the stud 14 arefilled by mailing strips 18 and a wooden door frame 19 is secured to therough door frame by means of nails or other securing means driven intoor oththeskeleton frame work for the first floor of the houseissubstantially completed. The next step in erecting the house is toconstruct the walls. Panels 20 of insulating material cut to proper sizeto extend between the various studs andcorner. posts are no-wzinsertedin place within the upper portion of opposing'grooves 91 of adjacentstuds and within the grooves 10f of the posts 10 opposing the grooves 9of adjacent studs and these panels 20 are slid downwardly in thesegrooves so that the lowermost panels rest directly 0n the foundationwall '7 and succeeding panels rest on panels immediately below the same.These various panels together with the strips 911 and 10d of insulatingmaterial form a complete wall of insulation for the building. Precastconcrete panels 21 having tenons at their ends and of proper lengthtofit between the. various studs and'between the studs and the posts 10are next inserted in place within the upper portions of opposing grooves99 and 971 of the studs and the grooves 10g and 10b of the posts 10 andthese concrete panels are slid. downwardly in the grooves so that thelowermost panels rest directly on the foundation wall 7 and succeedingpanels rest'on panels immediately below the same. It .will be seen thatthe panels '21 when fittedin place, form spaced parallel inner and outerwalls and the dead airspace between theinner and outerwalls formed bythe: panels? 21 between adjacent studs or between adjacent studsandposts, is divided into .two air chambers by means of the wall ofinsulation: formed; by the insulating panels 20; If 3 windows aredesired in the house, provision may be readily made for thesame as thepanels 20 and 21 are laid in place. If, for example, it is desiredv tolocate the sill of a: window at a.hori zontal level immediately abovethe two IOWBY-r most groupslof concrete panels 21 and the two lowermostinsulating panels 20 between two of thestuds 9;. as shown in Fig. 1, andas also shown in Fig; 2 and'Fig.,4,aprecast concrete slab 22 forming awindow sill is laid between the two desired studs 9 and one of the.studs, as the extreme right hand stud shown-in Fig. 1, is notchedtoreeeive the end .of this window sill slab. A

portion of the stud 9 which receives the slab 22 may then be usedasone'jamb of the rough window 'frame, whereup'onanother jamb 23 of verysimilar-construction to the stud 9 may be erected inproper spacedrelation from the jamb stud. The jamb 23 'is notched adjacent its twoends to receive the window sill slab 22 and a window lintel slab24'having one end received'within a notch ofthe jamb stud. The jamb 23above and below these two notches is made of reduced thickness to fitbetween the-spaced parallel concrete panelsZl; as best shown in Fig. 4.The jamb-23 is'se'curedtothe jamb stud 9 by means of tiejrods which runthrough properly provided rodopem ings in tthejamb ".23 and rod openingsformed in the jamb s'tud '9Iat. the correct levels; IL Nailing strips'26are provided in the grooves 9g and9hof the'jamb stud 9 between thetwo'slabs22 and 24 .andsimilar' strips-areprovided in theside of the:jarnb231facing thejamb stud 9; Atwooden Window frame "27. may besecured in the. rough window frame thus produced as by. nailingtth'e'same or otherwise'securing the same to the strips inthewall of thehouse,.concrete panels 21 and panels -20-of insulating material ofshorter lengths than theordinary panels between the} studsa'willbe'used. I a

:After the wall of the'liouse is laid to reach'a l eve'l slightly belowthe upper ends of the studs 9 and posts 10, precast concrete beams 28 ofless height than the 'panels'fil and of greater thickness thanthesepanels are laid at a common level concrete panels 21 will be used tobring the level Of-th outer Walls ofthe' building flush with the uppersurface of theflooring 29 and with the: upper end of the studs-9 and theostsio. -The' second story'of the building can then be erected in muchthe-samemanner as the first story-by attachmenfioffurther studs 9 andposts 10 to the bolts 11 mounted in the upper ends of the first storystuds and posts.

If it is desired to provide additional insulation for the house, sheets30 of insulating material may be nailed or otherwise secured directly tothe nailing strips 9 of the studs 9, whereupon plaster 31 may be appliedin the usual manner over the insulating sheets. Preferably before theinsulating sheets 30 are applied, both the inner and outer walls formedby the concrete panels 21, are sealed at all joints by cement groutingwhich is applied with a broom or brush. a

If stucco is to be applied to the exterior wall of the house, it is notnecessary to seal the jointsv of this exterior wall by grouting,inasmuch as when the stucco coating 32 is applied this coat-i ing ofitself will seal the various joints between the different units in theexterior walls. erably the stucco coating 32 is used but, if desired,any type of exterior finish may be used for the house. If it is desiredto apply wood siding to the exterior walls of the house, preferablynailing strips will be provided in the studs. 9 on the exterior surfacesthereof at the time that the studs are cast (not illustrated) I The roofof the house may be applied "in any desired manner, in accordance withgood practice. If desired, special precast floor strips 33 made fromconcrete may be used in finishing off the interior of the house.

It will be seen that by use of the prepared precast building units, acomplete building can be constructed in a very short time by unskilled"Of course, where doors or windows are provided Pref Iabor.'.'-'.Practically ,theentire structure is" fire proof; the buildingthaszgreat,strength to resist storms r and the walls aretho'roughly insulated, bothagainst 'heatandcold. The buildingiis inexpensive to produce andinexpensive to assemble; Y

Any, number ofdesigns may be made. Inside load bearing partitions canbe'built in a manner similar to: the mannerv of building the walls ofthe structure, or any suitable-type of partition may beusedix ---=Withthe wall construction provided, no mortar of any kind: need. be useduntil after the completewall is setup. No'pouredv concrete' 'need beused nor forms of any kind required. Although the studs are cast assingle units and the corner posts are cast asisingle units, thedifferent inner and outer sections" of the .studs and posts areseparated by insulating material and a separated double wall structureof concrete is thusprovided through which heat units' cannot" readilypass; The'r'eis thus practically no possibility of "condensation ofmoisture on the inside of the wall because the difierences initemperature of the air at the inner sideOf-the 'inner concrete wall andin the air space between'the insulating panels20 and the innercohcrete-wallcan'be but slight.

Inaddition to the high-thermal insulating prop-- erties o fthe'building' construction, the walls also have the property ofdeadening passage of sound' 'therethrough to high degree.-'

Althoughthe building units of my invention are particularlyadaptable'for the construction of re'sidentit-ilv houses, office buildings,factories and buildings of all types" maybe made by the use of the same.1 j

It 'will,-"of "c'ou'rse be understood that various changes ma b'emade inthe form,'d etails, arrangements and proportions of the "various partsand in constructions made frorn flthe various building units withoutdeparture from the scope ofthepresntinventionf v Y What is claiined iszA 1. A building construction comprising a plurality of spaced parallel,precast vertical studs formedchiefly of concrete, said studs eachcomprising two concrete sections facing each other, a strip ofinsulating material disposed between said two sectionsand tiesinterconnecting said sections and strip, each of said sections havingsides within which spaced parallel longitudinal grooves are formed andslabs of precast concrete slidably fitted within opposing grooves ofadjacent studs to form double walls insulated from each other by a deadair space.

2. A building structure comprising a plurality of vertically disposedprecast studs horizontally spaced from each other, each of said studscomprising two'concrete sections disposed in closely spaced parallelrelation and a strip of insulating material disposed between said twosections, and means tying said sections and said strip together,said'strip'being of slightly narrower width than the two sections toform medial longitudinal grooves in the sides of said studs, each ofsaid sections also having outer and inner longitudinal grooves in itsside surfaces, panels of insulating material extending between adjacentstuds and fitting at their ends within said first mentioned grooves toform intermediate insulating walls between the studs and panels ofprecast concrete extending between adjacent studs and received withinsaid last mentioned grooves of said studs to form outer and innerconcrete walls between adjacent studs.

3. A building construction including a plurality of spaced verticalprecast studs; one of said studs: forming one jamb of a rough frame, apre-; cast jamb generallysimilar in construction to said studs anddisposed in spaced relation from: said stud forming said first mentionedjamb, means for anchoring the lower ends of said studs and said lastmentioned j amb, a tie rod extending between the upper portion of saidlast mentioned jamb and a portion of said first mentioned jamb andhorizontally precast concrete slabs vertically spaced from each otherand forming respectively the cross members of a frame and extendingbetween said. two jambs, said two jambs having notches formed therein:receiving the ends of said slabs.

4. In a building made from precast units, a plurality of verticalprecast studs, precast verticalcorner posts, precast concrete inner andouter panels disposed in tiers and extending between adjacent studs andbetween posts and studs adjacent thereto, said studs and posts havinglongitudinal grooves formed therein and slidably receiving the ends ofsaid panels, means for anchor-- ing the lower ends of said studs andposts and spacing and tie rods running between the upper portions ofadjacent studs and between posts and studs adjacent thereto, each studand each post including inner and outer precast concrete sections, astrip of insulating material placed therebetween and ties securingtogether said sections and strip; and panels of insulating materialinterposed between inner and outer precast con--' crete panels andextending between adjacent studs and between posts and studs adjacentthereto, the studs and posts being constructed to receive said panels ofinsulating material in such manner that the ends of said. panels ofinsulat-c ing material abut the edges of said'strips of insulatingmaterial.

5. A building structure comprising a foundation wall, bolts anchored inand projecting upwardly from said wall at horizontally spaced points",corner posts projecting upwardly from said. wall at the. cornersthereof. and fastened at their lower ends by certain of said bolts tosaid wall, said posts being formed chiefly of precast concrete, verticalstuds horizontally spaced from said posts and from each other andprojecting upwardly from said foundationv wall, said studs being securedto said foundation wall at their lower ends by certain of said bolts,spacing and tie rods; running between the upper portions of adjacentstuds. and between. posts and studs: adjacent thereto, said studs andposts having spaced inner and outer longitudinal grooves disposed inspaced parallel relation formed in their sides facing other studs andposts, precast concrete panels extending between adjacent studs andbetween posts and studs adjacent thereto and slidably fitted at theirends within said grooves in tiered arrangement to form with the studsand posts inner and outer walls, precast concrete beams resting on saidinner walls and extending between adjacent studs and also between postsand studs adjacent thereto and a flooring supported by said beams, saidposts and studs each comprising twoprecast concrete sections spaced fromeach other, a strip of insulating material disposed between the twosections and cooperating with the sides of respective posts and. studsto form longitudinal grooves therein, and ties securing said sectionsand strip together and panels of insulating material disposed betweenadjacent studs and between posts and studs adjacent thereto and. fittingat their ends within said last mentioned grooves to cooperate with saidstrips and thereby formwalls of insulating material.

6. The structure defined in claim 3, the saidjambs having verticalgrooves in their facing sides, nailing strips fitting within saidgrooves and a frame between said jambs and slabs and attached to saidnailing strips.

PETER RUTTEN.

